Rare and finely produced edition of Giovanni Battista Guarini's (1538-1612) famous pastoral drama Il Pastor Fido, here of special interest for its fine binding by the so-called "Bird's Head Bindery", Amsterdam. The design is exceptionally rich but light for a Dutch binding from the period. The spine compartments show a charming lozenge with the head of a girl carrying a basket of flowers and the outer frame on the sides shows birds among leafy sprays. The four corners on each board show a fine carnation (t. 28). This Amsterdam bindery probably started its activities ca. 1728 with work for the book collector Gosuinus Uilenbroek (1658-1714). Storm van Leeuwen notes that "the Bird's Head Bindery made many presentation bindings that were definitely or probably commissioned by publishers." The "richness of execution and the Amsterdam publisher" of the present work "indicate that it may have been a presentation copy" (Storm van Leeuwen).
In very good condition with the binding slightly rubbed, corners slightly bumped, scratch across lower part of front board. A pastoral drama in an exceptional binding. Italian Union Catalogue (1 copy); STCN (1 copy); for the binding: Storm van Leeuwen, Dutch decorated bookbinding III, p. 500, 249 (this copy) and I, pp. 436-451.